Grand Ledge school district bond proposal fails by just 83 votes

LANSING –The Grand Ledge school district's bond proposal – that would have raise nearly $60 million to finance security improvements at all school buildings, adding new computers, buses, replacing the temporary classrooms – was voted down by a narrow margin on Tuesday night.

A number of school millage bonds proposals were on the ballot during the May 6 special election. Ballot proposals in Lansing and Williamston passed, while Grand Ledge's failed by just 83 votes

With all precincts reporting in Eaton, Clinton, and Ionia Counties, voters defeated the proposal by just 83 votes – or 1.3 percent of the total votes, according to unofficial results. A total of 3,149 voted no and 3,066 voted.

The Grand Ledge Board of Education was proposing issuing bonds that would be paid off by raising the millage rate by 1.95 mills.

said Monday on Current State on WKAR-FM. "We have multiple levels of safety and security. It's honestly one of the greatest expenditures of the bond money."

Metcalf also said that the millage's aid to arts and athletic programs were more than just "extras" and were meant to create a more well-rounded school experience.

Other improvements that were planned for the proposal included finance such things as replacing the temporary classrooms at Neff Kindergarten Center, Hayes Middle School and Delta Center Elementary, expanding Grand Ledge High School, and fixing a number of heating and cooling units at the schools.